Girl Rising, a documentary about the lives of 9 girls around the world and their daily adversities was screened in the Wits Great Hall last night. The movie is an initiative of the movement of the same name which aims to change the futures of girls in difficult circumstances around the world.

The Wits screening of the movie was preceded by a panel discussion on the dangers female children face worldwide and how education could alleviate these dangers.

Chairperson of F.E.E.D (Feed, Educate, Empower and Develop), Dr Zahida Adams, one of the panellists, said, “The mission of the movie is to change lives, minds and to change policies”. Adams added that the movie “has a curriculum to go with it, from this you can catalyse and stimulate discussion around issues pertaining to girl education, girl empowerment and gender equality”. Adams was joined on the panel by The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA), Advocate Carina Coetzee and Mam Khanye from Home of Hope.

Wits Golden Key vice chairperson Sipho Given Matjebe who attended the event stressed that the movement is addressing an issue most people are ignorant about. Matjebe, a Girl Rising ambassador, said he got involved with the movement because he wanted to raise awareness and spread the message that the girl child is just as important as the boy child.
Lehlogonolo Muthevhuli, also an ambassador, said she is an advocate for all human rights, however as a woman she is more inclined to advocate for women’s rights because it is personal to her.